Advanced Graphic Design || Tues./Thurs. 1-3:30 || University of Akron
Course Objective : "Low Tech to High Tech
Students create a movie poster, campaign, and title/trailor sequence for a film drawn from a list of contemporary and classic independent cinema.

The goal is to communicate the ambience, mood, concepts, and emotions of the film through its graphic representation. The poster should tell the audience something about the film. No headshots, no star names, no Saul Bass rip-offs. Complexity, multiple narratives, suitability, and controlled hierarchy are among the major issues discussed.

Students present: general research, verbal ideas, 20 different ideas, 25 formal sketches, three final posters (one version two color screen print) , and two applications.

Students create a title/trailor sequence of at least sixty seconds in the same visual style as their posters. An emphasis is placed on typography in motion, as well as image-based footage.

Students present: Written ideas and sketches, storyboards, key frames, animation/footage tests, rough edit, final edit.

Current Course Website


View Project 1 Examples

View Project 2 Examples
Project 1 | Print : Film Campaign
Objective
The student will engage in concepting an entire campaign around a specific film event or lecture. The goal is to communicate the ambiance, mood, concepts, and emotions of the film through graphic representation. This event can be past, current, or fabricated. The option of topics are general and based on film, director, or genre. The topics are defined by the student. The projects will cover two-color screen printing process and campaign strategy.

Subject
Event based promotional materials for film, director, or genre.

Product
Complete poster series and two applications.

Sean Baker

Cyndi Mull

Allison Smith

Jasen Melnick

Jillian Tyminski


Project 2 | Motion : Film Campaign
Project Objective : Students create a title sequence or movie trailor of at least sixty seconds in the same visual style as thier poster. An emphasis is placed on typography in motion, as well as image-based footage.

Subject
Event based promotional materials for film, director, or genre.

Product
Film title sequence or movie promotional trailor.

Process
Outlining the information.
Examine the key aspects of the information being communicated to the viewer. Use these key aspects as a basis to assist in defining what content and visual elements can serve as the body of the entire system.

Students will need to generate the following information for campaign:
Title, Location, Guest Lecturer, Date & Time, General Description, Cost, Website

Students present:
Written ideas and sketches, storyboards, key frames, animation/footage tests, rough edits, final edit.

Students will explore and experiment with different narrative structures within initial concept and storyboarding phase.

Sean Baker

Eric Gibson

John Guffey

Jasen Melnick


Cyndi Mull

Ryan Flannigan


Allison Smith